Biologically active amides

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides novel peptides of formula (I): 
     
         R--(X.sup.1).sub.m --(X.sup.2).sub.n --X.sup.3 --X.sup.4 --X.sup.5 
    
      --X 6  --X 7  --(X 8 ) p  --(X 9 ) q  --R 1  (I) 
     together with their salts, esters, amides, N-alkylamides and N,N-dialkylamides and acid addition salts thereof. 
     These compounds exhibit morphine agonist activity in both in vitro and in vivo tests and may be used in the treatment of mammals in the fields of both human and veterinary medicine in any condition where an agent with a morphine-like effect is indicated.

PRIOR APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 815,774, filed July 14, 1977, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 762,529, filed Jan. 26, 1977, now abandoned.

This invention relates to peptides and derivatives thereof; to the preparation of such compounds; to formulations containing such compounds and the preparation of such formulations; and to the use of the compounds in human and veterinary medicine.

More particularly the present invention relates to peptides and derivatives thereof which exhibit morphine agonist activity. As generally accepted and as the term is used herein, a morphine agonist is a compound the biological activity of which mimics that of the natural alkaloid.

The pharmacological properties and therapeutic uses of morphine are well documented in the literature, see for example "The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics", Goodman, L. S. and Gilman, A. eds., published by The MacMillan Company, New York, third edition (1965) especially at Chapter 15, pages 247 to 266, and "Martindale: The Extra Pharmacopoeia", Blacow, N. W. ed., published by The Pharmaceutical Press, London, twenty-sixth edition (1972) especially at pages 1100 to 1106, all of which is incorporated herein by reference hereto. As is well known however (Goodman, L. S. et al., loc. cit, Chapter 16) repeated administration of morphine can lead to the recipient developing an addiction to the drug and tolerance to its effects and to his manifesting withdrawal symptoms when administration is discontinued. For many years therefore research has been conducted with the aim of obtaining a compound having the activity spectrum of morphine while lacking its disadvantages.

The present invention provides the novel peptides of formula (I);

    R--(X.sup.1).sub.m --(X.sup.2).sub.n --X.sup.3 --X.sup.4 --X.sup.5 --X.sup.6 --X.sup.7 --(X.sup.8).sub.p --(X.sup.9).sub.q --R.sup.1 (I)

together with their salts, esters, amides, N-alkylamides and N,N-dialkylamides and acid addition salts thereof, which compounds exhibit morphine agonist activity in both in vitro and in vivo tests.

In formula (I):

X¹ and X² are the same or different and each is the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L);

X³ is a D or L radical having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R² is phenyl or 1,4-cyclohexadien-1-yl, a is 0, 1 or 2, b is 0 or 1, one of W and W¹ is a group --NR³ -- and the other is hydrogen, provided that W is always --NR³ -- when b is 0 and that when R² is 1,4-cyclohexadien-1-yl a is always 1 and b is always 0, where R³ is hydrogen or a group selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carboxyalkyl, carboxyalkenyl and carboxyalkynyl, and where R² is optionally substituted by one or more groups each selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, alkanoyloxy, alkyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, amino, N-alkylamino, halogen, N,N-dialkylamino and benzyloxy wherein the phenyl ring is optionally substituted by one or more groups each selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, alkanoyloxy, halogen, alkyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, amino, N-alkylamino and N,N-dialkylamino;

X⁴ and X⁵ are the same or different and each is glycyl or a D or L radical selected from C-propargylglycyl, alanyl, α-alkyl alanyl, β-alanyl, valyl, norvalyl, leucyl, isoleucyl, norleucyl, prolyl, hydroxyprolyl, tryptophyl, asparaginyl and glutaminyl, where each of said radicals is optionally N² -substituted with an alkyl group;

X⁶ is selected from glycyl, a D or L radical selected from methionyl, leucyl, isoleucyl, norleucyl, valyl, norvalyl, prolyl, hydroxyprolyl, alanyl and histidyl, and the values recited hereinabove for X³ ;

X⁷ is a D or L radical selected from seryl, homoseryl, O-alkyl seryl, O-alkyl homoseryl, threonyl, O-alkyl threonyl, methionyl sulphoxide, methionyl sulphone, β-homovalyl, homoleucyl, β-homoleucyl, S-methyl-homocysteinyl, homomethionyl, β-homomethionyl and the values recited hereinabove for X⁶ ;

X⁸ is selected from the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L) and a D or L radical selected from seryl, threonyl, phenylalanyl and tyrosyl;

X⁹ is selected from glycyl, the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L), and a D or L radical selected from seryl and threonyl;

R is selected from hydrogen, aralkyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carboxyalkyl, carboxyalkenyl and carboxyalkynyl;

R¹ represents the hydroxyl of the 1-carboxyl group of the C-terminal amino acid residue or a group, replacing said 1-carboxyl group, selected from --CH₂ OR⁴, where R⁴ is hydrogen or alkanoyl, and 5-tetrazolyl optionally substituted in the 1- or 2-position with a group selected from alkyl and benzyl; and

m, n, p and q are each selected from 0 and 1,

except for the peptides of the formula:

    H--X.sup.3 --Gly--Gly--X.sup.6 --X.sup.7 --OH

and their salts, esters, amides, N-alkylamides and N,N-dialkylamides and acid addition salts thereof, wherein X⁷ is selected from L-leucyl and L-methionyl and either X³ is selected from L-tyroSyl and L-3,5-diiodotyrosyl and X⁶ is L-phenylalanyl, or X³ is L-tyrosyl and X⁶ is L-4-chlorophenylalanyl.

The abbreviations used herein for amino acids and their radicals are those conventional in the art and may be found in, for example, Biochemistry, 11, 1726 (1972). In the above and throughout the following all references are to the L-amino acids and their radicals except in the case of glycine and unless otherwise stated.

By the term "basic amino acid" is herein meant an amino acid having two basic functions and one carboxyl group, and as examples of the radicals X¹, X², X⁸ and X⁹ may be mentioned lysyl (D and L), homoarginyl (D and L), ornithyl (D and L), histidyl (D and L), α,γ-diaminobutyryl(D and L) and arginyl (D and L).

In formula (I), the optional alkyl substituents of the radicals X⁴ and X⁵, the alkyl moiety of the α-alkyl alanyl identity for X⁴ and X⁵ and the alkyl moiety of the O-alkyl seryl, O-alkyl homoseryl and O-alkyl threonyl identities for X⁷ desirably have 1 to 4 and preferably 1 or 2 carbon atoms. In the phenyl or 1,4-cyclohexadien-1-yl ring R² of the radical X³, and in the optional benzyloxy substituents therein, the optional halogen substituents may be selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine and the optional alkyl and alkoxy substituents together with the alkyl moieties of the optional alkanoyloxy, N-alkylamino and N,N-dialkylamino substituents desirably have 1 to 4 and preferably 1 or 2 carbon atoms.

When the phenyl or cyclohexadien-1-yl ring of the radical X³ has 1 or 2 substituent groups thereon said groups are desirably located at the 3- and/or 4-position(s) of the said ring.

The alkyl identity for R and for the group R³ of the radical X³ together with said moiety in the carboxyalkyl identity therefor may in particular have 1 to 4 carbon atoms, for example 1 or 2, but such groups having for example 1 to 10 or 1 to 20 carbon atoms are to be understood as also included. The alkenyl and alkynyl identities for R and R³ together with said moieties in respectively the carboxyalkenyl and carboxyalkynyl identities therefor may in particular have 2 to 4 carbon atoms but such groups having for example 2 to 10 or 2 to 20 carbon atoms are to be understood as within the scope of formula (I). As particular values for said alkenyl and alkynyl groups respectively may be mentioned allyl (α, β or γ) and propargyl.

When R is aralkyl this may be for example benzyl optionally substituted in the phenyl ring by one or more groups each selected from those recited hereinbefore in respect of the optional benzyloxy substituent of the group R² in the radical X³.

When R¹ is a group --CH₂ OR⁴ wherein R⁴ is alkanoyl the alkyl moiety of said alkanoyl group desirably has 1 to 4 and preferably 1 or 2 carbon atoms. When R¹ is 5-tetrazolyl the optional alkyl substituent thereon desirably has 1 to 5 carbon atoms and the optional benzyl substituent thereon is itself optionally substituted in the phenyl ring by one or more groups each selected from those recited hereinbefore in respect of the optional benzyloxy substituent of the group R² in the radical X³.

Among the esters of the peptides of formula (I) may be mentioned the alkyl esters and the aryl esters. The alkyl esters include in particular those wherein the alkyl group has 1 to 4 carbon atoms, for example the methyl, ethyl and t-butyl esters, but esters wherein the alkyl group has for example 1 to 10 or 1 to 20 carbon atoms are to be understood as also included. The aryl esters include phenyl esters, for example halophenyl esters where the halo is for example chloro as in p-chlorophenyl.

In the N-alkyl- and N,N-dialkylamides of the peptides of formula (I) the alkyl groups may in particular have 1 to 5 carbon atoms but alkyl groups having for example 1 to 10 or 1 to 20 carbon atoms are to be understood as also included and in the N,N-dialkylamides the alkyl groups may be the same or different. The amides of the peptides should be understood to include those notionally derived not only from ammonia but also from heterocyclic bases such as pyrrolidine, piperidine and morpholine, that is to say, the pyrrolidineamides, piperidineamides and morpholineamides respectively.

Thus a sub-class of the amides, N-alkylamides and N,N-dialkylamides of the peptides of formula (I) may be represented by the formula: ##STR2## wherein X¹, X², X³, X⁴, X⁵, X⁶, X⁷, X⁸, X⁹, m, n, p, q and R have the meanings as hereinabove recited in formula (I) and R⁵, R⁶ and the nitrogen atom to which they are attached together comprise a group selected from amino, pyrrolidino, piperidino, morpholino, N-alkylamino and N,N-dialkylamino where the "alkyl" in each instance has 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

In the acid addition salts of the peptides of formula (I) and of their derivatives as hereinabove recited the activity resides in the base and the acid is of less importance although for therapeutic purposes it is preferably pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable to the recipient. Examples of such suitable acids include (a) mineral acids: hydrochloric, hydrobromic, phosphoric, metaphosphoric, nitric and sulphuric acids; (b) organic acids: tartaric, acetic, citric, malic, lactic, fumaric, benzoic, glycollic, gluconic, gulonic, succinic and arylsulphonic, for example p-toluenesulphonic, acids. The pharmaceutically and pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salts together with those salts which are not so acceptable (for example salts of hydrofluoric and perchloric acids) have utility in isolation and purification of the bases, and of course the unacceptable salts are also valuable in the preparation of the acceptable salts by techniques well known in the art. Those peptides and their derivatives containing a plurality of free amino groups may be obtained in the form of mono- or poly-acid addition salts, or as mixed salts of a plurality of acids.

Likewise in the salts of the peptides (comprising the peptide as the carboxylate anion together with a cation) the identity of the cation is of less importance although for therapeutic purposes it is preferably pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable to the recipient. Examples of such suitable cations include sodium and potassium.

Included among the novel peptides of formula (I) are the peptides of the formula:

ti H--(X¹)_(m) --(X²)_(n) --X³ --X⁴ --X⁵ --X⁶ --X⁷ --(X⁸)_(p) --(X⁹)_(q) --OH

together with their salts, esters, amides, N-alkylamides and N,N-dialkylamides and acid addition salts thereof, wherein

X¹ and X² are the same or different and each is the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L);

X³ is selected from phenylalanyl (D or L) and C-phenylglycyl (D or L), where each of said groups is optionally N² -substituted with an alkyl group and is optionally substituted in the 3- and/or 4- position of the phenyl ring by a group(s) each selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, acyloxy and benzyloxy;

X⁴ is selected from glycyl, alanyl (D or L), valyl (D or L), norvalyl (D or L), leucyl (D or L), isoleucyl (D or L), norleucyl (D or L), prolyl (D or L) and hydroxyprolyl (D or L), where each of said groups is optionally N² -substituted with an alkyl group;

X⁵ is selected from asparaginyl (D or L), glutaminyl (D or L), where each of said groups is optionally N² -substituted with an alkyl group, and the values recited hereinabove for X⁴ ;

X⁶ is selected from methionyl (D or L): leucyl (D or L), isoleucyl (D or L), norleucyl (D or L), valyl (D or L), norvalyl (D or L), prolyl (D or L), hydroxyprolyl (D or L), glycyl, alanyl (D or L) and the values recited hereinabove for X³ ;

X⁷ is selected from methionyl (D or L), seryl (D or L), threonyl (D or L), leucyl (D or L), isoleucyl (D or L), norleucyl (D or L), valyl (D or L), norvalyl (D or L), prolyl (D or L), hydroxyprolyl (D or L), glycyl, alanyl (D or L) and the values recited hereinabove for X³ ;

X⁸ and X⁹ are the same or different and each is selected from seryl (D or L) and threonyl (D or L); and

m, n, p and q are each selected from 0 and 1,

provided that, when m, n, p and q are all 0 and X³, X⁴, X⁵ and X⁶ are respectively tyrosyl, glycyl, glycyl and phenylalanyl, then X⁷ is other than methionyl or leucyl.

Also included among the novel peptides of formula (I) are the peptides of the formula:

    H--(X.sup.1).sub.m --(X.sup.2).sub.n --X.sup.3 --X.sup.4 --X.sup.5 --X.sup.6 --X.sup.7 --(X.sup.8).sub.p --(X.sup.9).sub.q --OH

together with their salts, esters, amides, N-alkylamides and N,N-dialkylamides and acid addition salts thereof, wherein

X¹ and X² are the same or different and each is the radical of a basic amino acid;

X³ and X⁶ are the same or different and each is selected from phenylalanyl and C-phenylglycyl, where each of said groups is optionally N-substituted by an alkyl group and is optionally substituted in the 3- and/or 4-position of the phenyl ring by a group(s) each selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, acyloxy and benzyloxy;

X⁴ and X⁵ are the same or different and each is selected from glycyl, alanyl (D or L), valyl (D or L), norvalyl (D or L), leucyl (D or L), isoleucyl (D or L), norleucyl (D or L), prolyl (D or L) and hydroxyprolyl (D or L), where each of said groups is optionally N-substituted by an alkyl group;

X⁷ is selected from methionyl, leucyl, isoleucyl, norleucyl, valyl, norvalyl, prolyl, hydroxyprolyl, glycyl, alanyl and the values recited hereinabove for X³ and X⁶ ;

X⁸ and X⁹ are the same or different and each is selected from seryl and threonyl; and

m, n, p and q are each selected from 0 and 1,

provided that, when m, n, p and q are all 0 and X³, X⁴, X⁵ and X⁶ are respectively tyrosyl, glycyl, glycyl and phenylalanyl, then X⁷ is other than methionyl or leucyl.

The morphine agonist properties of the peptides of formula (I) and their derivatives as hereinbefore defined include the following, which are given solely by way of illustration and should be understood to be non-limiting.

(A) In vitro:

(i) Inhibition of neurally evoked contractions of the isolated mouse vas deferens when tested by the method of Hughes et al (Brain Research, 88 (1975) 296) (using pulses at 0.1 Hz), the inhibition being abolished by the known narcotic antagonist naloxone (1-N-allyl-7,8-dihydro-l4-hydroxy normorphinone).

(ii) Reduction of electrically-induced contractions of the isolated guinea-pig ileum when prepared for stimulation after the manner of Paton (Brit. J. Pharmacol., 12 (1957) 119-127). (Each intestinal segment was impaled by the anode and suspended with a 2-3g load. Stimulus parameters: frequency: 0.1 Hz; duration: 0.4 ms; voltage (supramaximal) 30-40 V, the contractions were transduced isotonically).

(B) In vivo:

(i) The compounds exhibit analgesic activity, for example they are effective in reducing phenylbenzoquinone-induced writhing in mice when tested by a modification of the method of Hendershot et al. (J. Pharm. exp. Therap., 125 (1959) 237) (the compounds being administered by intracerebroventricular injection) and this reduction is abolished by naloxone.

(ii) The compounds exhibit antitussive activity, for example when tested in guinea-pigs according to the method of Boura et al. Brit. J. Pharmacol, 39 (1970) 225.

(iii) The compounds exhibit antidiarrhoeal activity, for example they are effective in reducing castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats.

As subclasses of the peptides of formula (I) and their derivatives may be mentioned those compounds wherein:

(i) m and n are both 0;

(ii) p and q are both 0;

(iii) X³ is L-tyrosyl;

(iv) X⁴ is the radical of a D-amino acid, preferably D-alanine;

(v) X⁵ is glycyl;

(vi) X⁶ is L-phenylalanyl;

(vi) X⁷ is the radical of a D-amino acid, preferably D-leucine or D-methionine.

As a further subclass may be mentioned those peptides and their derivatives of the formula:

    R--X.sup.3 --X.sup.4 --X.sup.5 --X.sup.6 --X.sup.7 --(X.sup.8).sub.p --(X.sup.9).sub.q --R.sup.1

wherein R, R¹, p and q are as defined in formula (I);

X³ is L-tyrosyl, O^(4') -acetyl-L-tyrosyl or N-methyl-L-tyrosyl;

X⁴ is glycyl, L-alanyl, α-methyl-alanyl or D-alanyl;

X⁵ is glycyl, sarcosyl or L-asparaginyl;

X⁶ is L-phenylalanyl, L-tyrosyl or L-4-chlorophenylalanyl;

X⁷ is L-leucyl, D-leucyl, L-methionyl, D-methionyl, L-norleucyl, L-threonyl or D-β-homoleucyl;

X⁸ is L-threonyl, D-threonyl, L-phenylalanyl, L-tyrosyl or L-lysyl; and

X⁹ is glycyl or L-lysyl.

As a yet further subclass may be mentioned those peptides and their derivatives of the formula:

    R--X.sup.3. D-Ala.Gly.L-Phe. X.sup.7 --R.sup.1

wherein

R and R¹ as defined in formula (I);

X³ is L-tyrosyl or N-methyl-L-tyrosyl; and

X⁷ is D-leucyl or D-methionyl.

The peptides of formula (I) and their derivatives as hereinabove recited may be prepared by any of the methods known in the art for the preparation of compounds of analogous structure. Thus they may be formed by the sequential coupling of appropriate amino acids using either classical methods of peptide synthesis or solid phase procedures, or by the initial preparation and subsequent coupling of peptide subunits.

Such reactions may be effected by, for example, activating the carboxylic acid group of the ingoing amino acid and protecting the non-reacting amino and carboxylic acid groups. Such techniques are standard in the peptide art. Details of suitable activating and protecting (masking) groups and of suitable reaction conditions (both for the coupling reactions and for the removal of protecting groups) giving the minimum of racemisation may be found in the following literature, all of which is incorporated herein by reference hereto, which is given purely by way of exemplification and which is intended to be neither exhaustive nor limiting.

(a) Published United Kingdom patent specifications Nos. 1 042 487; 1 048 086; and 1 281 383.

(b) Schr0der and Luebke, "The Peptides" (Academic Press) (1965).

(c) Bellean and Malek, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 90, 165 (1968).

(d) Tilak, Tetrahedron Letters, 849 (1970).

(e) Beyerman, Helv. Chim. Acta., 56, 1729 (1973).

(f) Stewart and Young, "Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis" (W. H. Freeman and Co.) (1969).

Depending upon the reaction conditions the peptides of formula (I) and their derivatives are obtained in the form of the free base or as an acid addition salt thereof of (in the case of the peptides themselves) as a salt thereof. The acid addition salts may be converted into the free bases or salts of other acids, and the bases may be converted into acid addition salts thereof, by techniques well known in the art. Likewise the peptides may be converted to salts thereof, and the salts converted to the peptides or to other salts, by well established techniques.

The peptides of formula (I) and their derivatives as hereinabove recited and acid addition salts thereof may thus be prepared by condensing a reagent (II)

    R--Y.sup.1 --OH                                            (II)

wherein Y¹ is selected from the radical (X¹)_(m) as defined in formula (I) and a partial radical sequence having the radical (X¹)_(m) its N-terminal end and from thereon corresponding to formula (I), with a reagent (III)

    H--Y.sup.2                                                 (III)

wherein Y² corresponds to the balance of the above defined product, the reagents (II) and (III) being optionally protected and/or activated where and as appropriate; followed if necessary and as appropriate by one or both of the steps of deprotection of the product and conversion of the product into the base or a salt or an acid addition salt thereof.

With regard to the peptides of formula (I) and their derivatives wherein the radical X⁷ is methionyl (D or L), the reagent (II) identified above desirably corresponds to the N-terminal fragment thereof having either (i) the methionyl radical X⁷ in the C-terminal position, the reagent (III) then having the radical (X⁸)_(p) in the N-terminal position, or (ii) the radical X⁶ the C-terminal position, the reagent (III) then having the methionyl radical X⁷ in the N-terminal position, and for general convenience the former possibility is preferred.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the peptide art that the arginyl (D or L) and homoarginyl (Har) (D or L) radicals may not only be incorporated into the peptide chain in the fashion described above but may also be formed in situ in the assembled chain, or in a subunit thereof, by guanidation of an ornithyl (D or L) or lysyl (D or L) radical respectively, using a reagent such as 1-guanyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazole.

It will also be appreciated that other in situ conversions of the peptides of formula (I) and their derivatives are possible. Thus the amides, N-alkylamides and N,N-dialkylamides may be prepared by for example reaction of a peptide alkyl ester such as the methyl ester with ammonia, a heterocyclic base or a mono- or dialkylamine, as appropriate. The peptide esters may be prepared from the peptides by standard esterification procedures and the esters may be converted to the peptides by saponification. Substituent hydroxy group(s) in the group R² of the radical X³ may be converted to alkoxy or benzyloxy groups by the use of the appropriate diazoalkane, for example diazomethane to provide methoxy groups. Substituent benzyloxy and alkanoyloxy group(s) in the group R² of the radical X³ may be removed to leave hydroxy groups by hydrogenolysis in methanol using 10% palladium on charcoal catalyst and by alkaline hydrolysis respectively, and the hydroxy group(s) may be converted to alkanoyloxy groups by standard alkanoylation procedures. All these are conventional techniques in the peplide are and reference may be made to the literature referred to hereinabove for details of reaction conditions and of appropriate protection/deprotection procedures.

Because of their morphine agonist activity already alluded to the peptides of formula (I) together with their pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, amides, N-alkylamides and N,N-dialkylamides and pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof may be used in the treatment of mammals in the fields of both human and veterinary medicine in any condition where an agent with a morphine-like effect is indicated. Specific utilities that may be mentioned, by way of example, include the following:

(1) The relief of pain (analgesia), for example pain arising from spasm of smooth muscle as in renal or biliary colic, pain due to terminal illness such as cancer, pain in the post-operative period, and obstetrical pain.

(2) Sedation, for example in pre-anaesthetic medication; tranquillization; the induction of sleep, especially where sleeplessness is due to pain or cough., and the relief of anxiety in general.

(3) The suppression of cough.

(4) The relief of dyspnoea, for example that of acute left ventricular failure or pulmonary oedema.

5) The induction of constipation, for example after ileostomy or colostomy, and the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery.

(6) The induction of euphoria and the treatment of depression, for example when allied to the relief of pain in terminal illness such as cancer.

For each of these utilities the amount required of the peptide or derivative thereof or acid addition salt thereof (hereafter referred to as the active ingredient) will vary with the route of administration and with the severity of the condition to be treated, and will ultimately be at the discretion of the physician or veterinarian. In general however for each of utilities the dosage will be in the range 0.0025 μg. to 40 mg. per kilogram body-weight of mammal, preferably 0.025 μg. to 4.0 mg./kg.,and optionally 0.25 to 400 μg/kg. (all dosages calculated with reference to the peptide base).

The active ingredients may be administered by any route appropriate to the condition to be treated, suitable routes including oral, rectal, nasal, topical (buccal), vaginal and parenteral (including subcutaneous, intramuscular and intravenous). It will be appreciated that the preferred route will vary with the condition to be treated and thus for example in the relief of obstetrical pain administration directly into the spinal cord may be advantageous.

While it is possible for the active ingredients to be administered as the raw chemical it is preferable to present them as a pharmaceutical formulation preparation.

The formulations, both veterinary and for human use, of the present invention comprise an active ingredient, as above defined, together with one or more acceptable carriers therefor and optionally other therapeutic ingredients. The carrier(s) must be "acceptable" in the sense of being compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and not deleterious to the recipient thereof. Desirably the formulations should not include oxidising agents and other substances with which peptides are known to be incompatible.

The formulations include those suitable for oral, rectal, nasal, topical (buccal), vaginal or parenteral (including subcutaneous, intramuscular and intravenous) administration, although the most suitable route in any given case will depend upon for example the active ingredient and the condition to be treated. The formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form and may be prepared by any of the methods well known in the art of pharmacy. All methods include the step of bringing into association the active ingredient with the carrier which constitutes one or more accessory ingredients. In general the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredient with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product into the desired formulation.

Formulations of the present invention suitable for oral administration may be presented as discrete units such as capsules, cachets or tablets each containing a predetermined amount of the active ingredient; as a powder or granules; or as a solution or a suspension in an aqueous liquid or a nonaqueous liquid; or as an oil-in-water liquid emulsion or a water-in-oil liquid emulsion. The active ingredient may also be presented as a bolus, electuary or paste.

A tablet may be made by compression or moulding, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets may be prepared by compressing in a suitable machine, the active ingredient in a free-flowing form such as a powder or granules, optionally mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert diluent, lubricating, surface active or dispersing agent. Moulded tablet may be made by moulding in a suitable machine, a mixture of the powdered compound moistened with an inert liquid diluent.

Formulations for rectal administration may be presented as a suppository with the usual carriers such as cocoa butter, while a suitable formulation for nasal administration is nasal drops comprising the active ingredient in aqueous or oily solution.

Formulations suitable for topical administration in the mouth include lozenges comprising the active ingredient in a flavoured basis, usually sucrose and acacia or tragacanth; and pastilles comprising the active ingredient in an inert basis such as gelatin and glycerin, or sucrose and acacia.

Formulations suitable for vaginal administration may be presented as pessaries, creams, pastes or spray formulations containing in addition to the active ingredient such carriers as are known in the art to be appropriate.

Formulations suitable for parenteral administration conveniently comprise sterile aqueous solutions of the active ingredient, which solutions are preferably isotonic with the blood of the recipient. Such formulations may be conveniently prepared by dissolving solid active ingredient in water to produce an aqueous solution, and rendering said solution sterile and isotonic with the blood of the recipient. The formulations may be predicted in unit - or in multipurpose containers, for example sealed ampoules or vials.

Formulations suitable for nasal administration wherein the carrier is a solid include a coarse powder having a article size for example in the range 20 to 500 microns which is administered in the manner in which snuff is taken, i.e. by rapid inhalation through the nasal passage from a container of the powder held close up to the nose. It should be understood that in addition to the aforementioned ingredients the formulations of this invention may include one or more additional ingredients such as diluents, buffers, flavouring agents, binders, surface active agents, thickeners, lubricants, preservatives (including anti-oxidants) and the like.

Where the formulation, for human or for veterinary use, is presented in unit dosage form, for example those unit dosage forms specifically mentioned above, each unit thereof conveniently contains the active ingredient (as above defined) in an amount in the range 0.125 μg. to 2g., preferably 1.25 μg. to 200 mg. and optionally 12.5 μg. to 20 mg. (all weights calculated with reference to the peptide base).

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that what we will claim may comprise any novel feature described herein, principally and not exclusively, for example:

(a) The peptides of formula (I) as hereinabove defined together with their salts, esters, amides, N-alkylamides and N,N-dialkylamides and acid addition salts thereof.

(b) Methods as described herein above for the preparation of the peptides of formula (I) and their derivatives recited in (a) above and acid addition salts thereof.

(c) Pharmaceutical formulations comprising a peptide of formula (I), a pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, amide, N-alkylamide or N,N-dialkylamide thereof or a pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof together with an acceptable carrier therefor.

(d) Methods for the preparation of the pharmaceutical formulations defined in (c) above.

(e) A method for the treatment of a mammal for a condition wherein an agent with a morphine-like effect is indicated, comprising the administration to the mammal of a treatment effective non-toxic amount of a peptide of formula (I), a pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, amide, N-alkylamide or N,N-dialkylamide thereof or a pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.

(f) A method according to (e) above for the treatment of a condition selected from those specifically identified hereinabove under (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6).

The following Examples serve to illustrate the present invention but should not be construed as in any way providing a limitation thereof. All temperatures are in degrees Celsius.

Experimental Section

The following abbreviations are used throughout

    ______________________________________                                         HOBT           1-hydroxybenzotriazole                                          DCCI           dicyclohexylcarbodiimide                                        DCU            dicyclohexylurea                                                NMM            N-methylmorpholine                                              DMF            diethylformamide                                                Pr             isopropanol                                                     Pr.sub.2 O     diisopropyol ether                                              pe             petroleum ether                                                 EtOAc          ethyl acetate                                                   Z              benzyloxycarbonyl                                               Bu             tertiary butyl                                                  BOC            tertiary butyloxycarbonyl                                       Bzl            benzyl                                                          ______________________________________                                    

Peptides were examined by tlc on Merck silicagel plates with the following solvent systems:

(1) methylethylketone

(2) n-butanol:acetic acid:water (3:1:1)

(3) chloroform:methanol:32% acetic acid (12:9:4)

(4) chloroform:methanol:880 ammonia (12:9:4)

(5) ethylacetate:n-butanol:acetic acid:water (1:1:1:1)

(6) chloroform:methanol (8:1)

All amino acids were of the L-configuration unless otherwise stated.

Optical rotations were determined on a Bendix NPL automatic polarimeter.

The amino acid compositions of peptide hydrolysates (6N.HCl at 110° for 24 hours in evacuated sealed tubes) were determined with a Beckman-Spinco Model 120C amino acid analyser or with a Rank Chromostak amino acid analyser.

The following general procedures were used throughout the syntheses of the peptides.

(a) Couplings were carried out in DMF and were mediated by DCCI.

(b) Amino acid ester hydrochlorides were converted to the free by addition of a tertiary base, either triethylamine or N-methyl morpholine.

(c) HOBT was added at the coupling stage when fragment condensation involved a peptide having an optically active carboxy terminal amino acid e.g. coupling with BOC.Tyr.D-Ala.Gly.Phe.OH.

(d) Couplings were allowed to proceed for 24 hours in the cold room at +4° C.

After coupling, purification was effected by washing with acid and base to remove unchanged reactants.

(f) Alkaline saponifications were carried out in aqueous methanol with an autotitrator at pH 11.5 to 12.0 with N.NaOH.

(g) Benzyloxycarbonyl protecting groups were removed by hydrogenolysis in methanol/acetic acid with 10% palladium on charcoal.

(h) The resulting acetate salts from the above hydrogenolysis were converted to the corresponding hydrochlorides by an addition of methanolic hydrogen chloride.

(i) Benzyl protecting were removed by hydrogenolysis in methanol with 10% palladium on charcoal.

(j) Tertiary butyl and tertiary butyloxycarbonyl protecting groups were removed with N-hydrogen chloride in acetic acid, in the presence of anisole to act as a scavenger. Cleavage was allowed to proceed for 60 to 90 minutes.

OBu protecting groups on the alcoholic functions of threonine and serine were removed with trifluoroacetic acid containing 10% water, cleavage being allowed to proceed for 90 minutes.

(l) The final peptides were isolated as their hydrochlorides and were lyophilised from aqueous solution.

Reference Preparation 1 BOC.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.OH

This was prepared according to the scheme set out in Table 1, wherein the various protecting groups have the following identities:

Z:benzyloxycarbonyl

Me:methyl

BOC:t-butyloxycarbonyl

All couplings were carried out in dimethylformamide using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, the reaction mixtures being stirred at 4° C. for a minimum of 24 hours.

The peptide methyl esters (1), (5) were saponified in solution in methanol-water (3:1 v/v) by addition of 2N aqueous sodium hydroxide at pH 11.5 (pH stat). The protecting group Z was cleaved from the protected tripeptide (3) by hydrogenolysis in methanol in the presence of 10% palladium on charcoal catlyst.

Characterising data are set out in Table 2 wherein Rf refers to thin layer chromatography using Merck silica gel and the solvent systems indicated.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                          ##STR3##                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

Reference Preparation 2 BOC.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.OH

By the process described in R.P. 1 the compound (4) was prepared and coupled with fully protected tyrosine (Bzl is a benzyl group) as set out in Table 3 to give the protected tetrapeptide (9). This was saponified in the manner described in R.P. 1 to give (10) from which the group Bzl was cleaved by hydrogenolysis in methanol in the presence of 10% palladium on charcoal catalyst.

    __________________________________________________________________________                 Crystallisation                                                    Rf*     M.p.°C.                                                                     Solvent φ                                                                           Elemental anaylsis                                        __________________________________________________________________________     (1)  0.65.sup.a                                                                        66-67                                                                              EtAc/p.e.                                                                               C.sub.13 H.sub.16 N.sub.2 O.sub.5                                              req.:   C,55.7; H,5.7; N,10.0                                                  Found   C,55.8; H,5.9; N,10.3                             (2)  0.59.sup.a                                                                        180 aq. EtOH C.sub.12 H.sub.14 N.sub.2 O.sub.5                                              req.:   C,54.1; H,5.3; N,10.5                                                  Found   C,54.3; H,5.6; N,10.4                             (3)  0.40.sup.b                                                                         58 Ethyl acetate/                                                                          C.sub.22 H.sub.25 N.sub.3 O.sub.6                                     diisopropyl ether                                                                       req:    C,61.8; H,5.9; N, 9.8                                                  Found   C,61.6; H,5.8; N, 9.6                             (4)(H.Cl)                                                                           0.77.sup.c                                                                        182.3                                                                              Methanol/                                                                               C.sub.14 H.sub.2 OClN.sub.3 O.sub.4                                   isopropanol                                                                             req:    c,51.0; H,6.1; N,12.8                                                  Found   C,51.3; H,6.3; N,12.6                             (5)  0.33.sup.b                                                                (6)  0.8.sup.a                                                                 __________________________________________________________________________      *Solvent                                                                       .sup.a n-butanol; acetic acid; water (3:1:1)                                   .sup.b methylethyl ketone                                                      .sup.c chloroform; methanol; 32% acetic acid (12:9:4)                          φ p.e.: petroleum ether                                                    EtAc: ethyl acetate                                                            EtOH: ethanol                                                            

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                          ##STR4##                                                                                    M.p. and                                                                       crystallisation                                                         Rf.sup.*                                                                              solvent        Elemental analysis                                ______________________________________                                         (9)    0.83.sup.a                                                                     0.34.sup.b                                                              (10)   0.70.sup.a                                                                            138.2° C.                                                                              C.sub.24 H.sub.40 N.sub.4 O.sub.8 req.:                  0.06.sup.b                                                                            EtAc           C, 64.56; H, 6.33;                                                             N, 8.86                                                                        Found:                                                                         C, 64.42; H, 6.46;                                                             N, 8.55%                                          ______________________________________                                          .sup.* Solvent (a) nbutanol; acetic acid; water (3:1:1)                        (b) methyl ethyl ketone                                                  

Characterising data for the intermediates (9) and (10) are as given in Table 3, wherein Rf refers to thin layer chromatography using Merck silica gel and the solvent systems indicated.

Examples 1 to 3 Peptides of formula: H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.X⁷.OH

Peptides of this formula were prepared by condensing the protected tetrapeptide BOC.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe-OH (Reference Preparations 1 and 2) with a suitably carboxy-protected amino acid derivative H-X⁷ -OR ##STR5## --OR could be conveniently chosen from such residues as --OMe; --OEt; OBu^(t) ; --OBzl; OBzl(p-NO₂)etc. depending on the ultimate choice of the manner of deprotection. With --OMe and --OEt, the carboxyl group could be liberated by alkaline saponification; with --OBU^(t) by mild acidolysis e.g. with trifluoroacetic acid or N-hydrogen chloride in acetic acid; with --OBzl or --OBzl(p--NO₂) by hydrogenolysis.

Step (A)

The general method of preparation of BOC.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.X⁷.OR X⁷ =Gly, Ala, Val R=Me

BOC.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.OH (0.92 mmol.), HCl H.X⁷.OMe (e.g. glycine methyl ester hydrochloride (0.92 mmol.) and HOBT (1.84 mmol.) were dissolved in DMF(5 ml.) and NMF (0.92 mmol.) added. The mixture was cooled to -10C. and DCCI (0.92 mmol.) added. The solution was allowed to warm slowly to ambient temperature and stirred overnight. The DCU was filtered, washed with a little DMF and the filtrate evaporated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed successively 5% aq. NaHCO₃ ; H₂ O; 5% citric acid; H₂ O. The solution was dried (MgSO₄), evaporated and the residue crystallised from an appropriate solvent.

    __________________________________________________________________________        m.p.                                                                           (cryst.                        Amino Acid                                   X.sup.7                                                                           solvent)                                                                             Rf  [α].sub.D.sup.25                                                                    Elemental Analysis                                                                       Analysis                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Gly                                                                               108-110°                                                                      0.97.sup.3 ;                                                                       +1.37°                                                                             C.sub.30 H.sub.39 N.sub.5 O.sub.9.H.sub.2 O:              MeOH/ 0.95.sup.4 ;                                                                       (C = 0.5, MeOH)                                                                           C, 57.05; Gly (3.08);                                     EtOAc/pe                                                                             0.85.sup.5     H,  6.50; Tyr (1.00);                                                          N, 11.09  Phe (1.05)                                                           Found:                                                                         C, 57.02;                                                                      H,  6.62;                                                                      N, 10.64%                                              Ala                                                                               115-117°                                                                      0.87.sup.3 ;                                                                       -8.81°                                                                             C.sub.31 H.sub.41 N.sub.5 O.sub.9 :                       EtOAc 0.95.sup.4 ;                                                                       (C = 0.5, in MeOH)                                                                        C, 59.32; Gly (1.98);                                                          H,  6.58; Ala (1.09);                                                          N, 11.16  Tyr (1.00);                                                                    Phe (1.03)                                                           Found:                                                                         C, 59.19;                                                                      H,  7.06;                                                                      N, 10.74%                                              Val                                                                               150-151°                                                                      0.97.sup.3 ;                                                                       -6.08°                                                                             C.sub.33 H.sub.45 N.sub.5 O.sub.9 :                       Pr/EtOAc/                                                                            0.95.sup.5                                                                         (C = 0.5, in MeOH)                                                                        C, 60.44; Gly (1.97.);                                    Pr.sub.2 O           H,  6.92; Val (0.94);                                                          N, 10.68  Try (1.00);                                                                    Phe (0.999)                                                          Found:                                                                         C, 59.94;                                                                      H,  7.02;                                                                      N, 10.37%                                              __________________________________________________________________________

Step (B)

The general method of preparation of BOC.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.X⁷.OH X⁷ =Gly,Ala,Val

The protected pentapepetide BOC.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.X.OMe was dissolved in methanol (6ml.), water (3ml.) was added and the pH maintained at 11.5 to 12.0 with N.NaOH until the theoretical amount of alkali had been added. The solution was concentrated in vacuo to remove methanol, diluted with water. Traces of insoluble material were filtered, the solution extracted with ethyl acetate to remove any residual ester and the aqueous phase brought to pH3 with 0.7M citric acid solution. The precipitated peptide was extracted into ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with water, dried with MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo.

    ______________________________________                                         X.sup.7              Rf       Elemental Analysis                               ______________________________________                                         Gly    Amorphous     0.84.sup.3 ;                                                                            C.sub.29 H.sub.37 N.sub.5 O.sub.9.H.sub.2                                      O:                                                      ppt. from EtOAc                                                                              0.74.sup.4 ;                                                                            C, 56.40;                                               with pe       0.83.sup.5                                                                              H,  6.32;                                                                      N, 11.34                                                                       Found:                                                                         C, 56.33;                                                                      H,  6.41;                                                                      N, 11.07%                                        Ala    Amorphous     0.80.sup.3 ;                                                                            C.sub.30 H.sub.39 N.sub.5 O.sub.9.H.sub.2                                      O:                                                      ppt. from EtOAc                                                                              0.66.sup.4 ;                                                                            C, 57.05;                                               with Pr.sub.2 O                                                                              0.87.sup.5                                                                              H,  6.50;                                                                      N, 11.09                                                                       Found:                                                                         C, 57.20;                                                                      H,  6.43;                                                                      N, 10.67%                                        Val    Amorphous     0.88.sup.3 ;                                                                            C.sub.32 H.sub.43 N.sub.5 O.sub.9 :                     ppt. from EtOAc                                                                              0.85.sup.4 ;                                                                            C, 59.89;                                               with pe       0.93.sup.5                                                                              H,  6.75;                                                                      Found:                                                                         C, 59.98;                                                                      H,  6.50%                                        ______________________________________                                    

Step (C)

The general method of preparation of H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.X⁷.OH HCl.=Gly,Ala,Val

To the pentapeptide BOC.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.X⁷.OH (100 mg.) was added 1.0N hydrogen chloride in acetic acid (5 ml.) and anisole (1 ml.). After stirring at ambient temperature for 90 mins. the solvents were removed in vacuo. Trituration of the residue with dry ether gave an amorphous solid. The product was dissolved in water, filtered and lyophilised to provide the hydrochloride salt of the peptide as a white solid.

    __________________________________________________________________________                                         Amino Acid                                 Ex.                                                                               X.sup.7    Rf  [α].sub.D.sup.25                                                               Elemental Analysis                                                                         Analysis                                   __________________________________________________________________________     1  Gly Amouphous                                                                             0.82.sup.3 ;                                                                       +27.9°                                                                        C.sub.23 H.sub.29 N.sub.5 O.sub.7 HCl.H.sub.2 O:          (HCl)                                                                              (lyophilised)                                                                         0.63.sup.4 ;                                                                       (C = 0.18,                                                                           C, 50.97;   Gly (3.02);                                              0.60.sup.5                                                                         in MeOH)                                                                             H,  5.91;   Try (1.0);                                                         N, 12.93    Phe (0.99)                                                         Found:                                                                         C, 51.09;                                                                      H,  6.19;                                                                      N, 12.54%                                              2  Ala Amorphous                                                                             0.5.sup.3 ;                                                                        +22.3°                                                                        C.sub.24 H.sub.31 N.sub.5 O.sub.7.HCl.H.sub.2 O:          (HCl)                                                                              (lyophilised)                                                                         0.58.sup.4 ;                                                                       (C = 0.2,                                                                            C, 51.85;   Gly (1.95);                                              0.67.sup.5                                                                         in MeOH)                                                                             H,  6.12;   Ala (1.01);                                                        N, 12.60    Tyr (1.00);                                                                    Phe (0.98)                                                         Found:                                                                         C, 52.14;                                                                      H,  6.20;                                                                      N, 12.10%                                              3  Val Amorphous                                                                             0.80.sup.2 ;                                                                       +31.7 C.sub.27 H.sub.35 N.sub.5 O.sub.7.HCl.2H.sub.2 O:         (HCl)                                                                              (lyophilised)                                                                         0.67.sup.4 ;                                                                       (C = 0.1,                                                                            C, 52.80;   Gly (2.1);                                               0.79.sup.5                                                                         in MeOH)                                                                             H,  6.52;   Val (1.02)                                                         N, 11.40    Tyr (1.00);                                                                    Phe (1.05)                                                         Found:                                                                         C, 52.89;                                                                      H,  6.45;                                                                      N, 11.26%                                              __________________________________________________________________________

The following peptides were prepared, with the characteristing data respectively shown therefor, according to standard procedures in peptide chemistry analogous to those set out in the foregoing Examples and Reference Preparations. C-Terminal derivatives are indicated according to convention, that is to say:

    ______________________________________                                         --OMe               methyl ester                                               --NH.sub.2          amide                                                      --NHEt              ethylamide                                                 ______________________________________                                    

In Example 10, BOC.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Tyr.Leu.OBu was dissolved in methanol/methylene dichloride containing a few drops of borontrifluoride etherate. An excess of an ethereal solution of diazomethane was added and the solution allowed to stand at ambient temperature until its reaction with Pauly's reagent was negative. The solution was evaporated and the BOC and Bu protecting groups removed from the residual solid by means of N-hydrogen chloride in acetic acid in the presence of anisole in the normal manner. The peptide hydrochloride was isolated as a colourless amorphous powder after lyophilisation from aqueous solution.

In Example 21, the product peptide was purified by chromatography on a column of silica gel (Merck) by elution with n-butanol: acetic acid: water (3:1:1). The Pauly-positive fractions with Rf: 0.44² were combined, evaporated in vacuo and the residue lypophilised from aqueous solution.

The peptide base of Example 105 was prepared by reduction of the compound H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Leu.OMe: the reducing agent was lithium aluminium hydride but other equivalent agents, common in the art, could also be used.

The peptide bases of Examples 111 and 112 were prepared by (a) preparing Z-leucineamide from the protected amino acid; (b) converting the amide to the nitrile (phosphorus oxychloride); (c) preparing the protected leucine tetrazole by reacting the nitrile with hydrazoic acid; (d) deprotecting the leucyl amino function by hydrogenolysis (10% palladium on charcoal); (e) assembling the pentapeptide in the customary manner.

    __________________________________________________________________________     Ex. No.                                                                              Compound                         Rf           [α].sup.25.sub.D                                                          (in                       __________________________________________________________________________                                                         methanol)                   4    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                               0.63.sup.2   +19.8° (c =                                                             0.5)                          5(a)                                                                              H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Met.OH HCl                                                                               0.62.sup.2 ; 0.60.sup.3                                                                     +17.2° (c =                                                             0.5)                          5(b)                                                                              H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Met.OMe   0.67.sup.2 ; 0.70.sup.3                                                                     +10.4° (c =                                                             0.5)                        6    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Ala.Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                               0.65.sup.2 ; 0.56.sup.4                                                                     +1.68° (c =                                                             0.5)                        7    H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Tyr.Leu.OH HCl     0.47.sup.2 ; 0.50.sup.3                                                                     +24.4° (c =                                                             0.54)                       8    H.Phe.Gly.Gly.Tyr.Leu.OH HCl     0.55.sup.2 ; 0.57.sup.4                                                                     +26.45° (c =                                                            0.54)                       9                                                                                    ##STR6##                        0.58.sup.2 ; 0.62.sup.4                                                                     +21.77° (c =                                                            0.5)                       10                                                                                    ##STR7##                        0.64.sup.2 ; 0.92.sup.3                                                                     +21.0° (c =                                                             0.51)                      11    H.Tyr.Gly. --D-Ala.Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                               0.60.sup.2 ; 0.90.sup.3 ;                                                      0.63.sup.4   +36.67° (c =                                                            1)                         12    H.Tyr.Ala. --D-Ala.Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                               0.60.sup.2 ; 0.94.sup.3 ;                                                      0.55.sup.4   +6.43° (c =                                                             1)                         13    H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Met.Thr.OH HCl 0.72.sup.1 ; 0.65.sup.3 ;                                                      0.60.sup.4 ; 0.60.sup.5                 14    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Met.Thr.OH HCl                                                                           0.10.sup.1 ; 0.49.sup.2 ;                                                      0.68.sup.4   +12.46° (c =                                                            0.52)                      15    H.Arg.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH 2HCl                                                                               0.38.sup.2 ; 0.61.sup.4                                                                     +17.7° (c =                                                             0.52)                      16    H.Tyr.Ala. --D-Ala.Phe.Met.OMe HCl                                                                              0.58.sup.2 ; 0.97.sup.3 ;                                                      0.88.sup.4   -3.66° (c =                                                             0.2)                       17    H.Tyr.Gly. --D-Ala.Phe.Met.OMe HCl                                                                              0.61.sup.2 ; 0.98.sup.3 ;                                                      0.85.sup.4   +30.19° (c =                                                            0.2)                       18    H.Tyr.Ala. --D-Ala.Phe.Met.OH HCl                                                                               0.58.sup.2 ; 0.54.sup.3 ;                                                      0.61.sup.4   +4.22° (c =                                                             1)                         19    H.Tyr.Gly. --D-Ala.Phe.Met.OH HCl                                                                               0.50.sup.2 ; 0.55.sup.3 ;                                                      0.56.sup.4   +34.19° (c =                                                            1)                         20    H.Arg.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Leu.Thr.OH 2HCl                                                                           0.16.sup.2 ; 0.32.sup.3 ;                                                      0.51.sup.4   +1.63° (c =                                                             0.5)                       21    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Pro.OH HCl                                                                               0.44.sup.2   -1.52° (c =                                                             0.51)                      22    H.Tyr.  --D-Ala. --D-Ala.Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                         0.68.sup.2 ; 0.93.sup.3 ;                                                      0.93.sup.4   +43.71° (c =                                                            1)                         23    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Leu.Leu.OH HCl                                                                               0.68.sup.2 ; 0.74.sup.3 ;                                                      0.88.sup.4   -4.43° (c =                                                             0.5)                       24    H.Tyr.Ile.Asn.Met.Leu.OH         0.57.sup.2 ; 0.83.sup.4                                                                     -13.5° (c =                                                             0.2)                       25    H.Tyr.Ala.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH HCl     0.55.sup.2 ; 0.84.sup.3 ;                                                      0.86.sup.4   -1.35° (c =                                                             1)                         26    H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Nle.OH HCl     0.58.sup.2 ; 0.85.sup.3 ;                                                      0.86.sup.4   +24.44° (c =                                                            0.4)                       27    H.Tyr. --D-Leu.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                               0.85.sup.1 ; 0.86.sup.2 ;                                                      0.79.sup.3   +17.3° (c =                                                             0.2)                       28    H.Tyr.Ala.,Ala.Phe.Leu.OH HCl    0.76.sup.1 ; 0.62.sup.2 ;                                                      0.74.sup.3   -33.6° (c =                                                             0.6)                       29    H.Tyr.Gly.Pro.Phe.Leu.OH HCl     0.76.sup.1 ; 0.68.sup.2 ;                                                      0.75.sup.3   -30.0° (c =                                                             0.5)                       30    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.gly. --D-Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                          0.57.sup.2 ; 0.86.sup.3                                                                     +27.2° (c =                                                             0.5)                       31    H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH HCl                                                                               0.71.sup.1 ; 0.49.sup.2 ;                                                      0.79.sup.3   +28.7° (c =                                                             0.4)                       32    H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.  --D-Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                              0.51.sup.2 ; 0.85.sup.3 ;                                                      0.48.sup.4   +24.5° (c =                                                             0.52)                      33    H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Ile.OH HCl     0.76.sup.1 ; 0.85.sup.2 ;                                                      0.65.sup.3   +22.7° (c =                                                             0.6)                       34    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.C-Phenylglycyl.Leu.OH HCl                                                                    0.64.sup.2 ; 0.85.sup.3                                                                     +43.7° (c =                                                             0.48)                      35    H.Phe. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                               0.66.sup.2 ; 0.93.sup.3                                                                     +21.2° (c =                                                             0.52)                      36    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Sar.Phe.Leu.OMe HCl                                                                              0.64.sup.2 ; 0.90.sup.4                                                                     +3.69° (c =                                                             0.4)                       37    H.Tyr.Gly.Ala.Phe.Leu.OH HCl     0.62.sup.2 ; 0.86.sup.3 ;                                                      0.63.sup.4   -12.07° (c =                                                            1)                         38    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Thr.OH HCl                                                                               0.50.sup.2 ; 0.51.sup.4                                                                     +19.8° (c =                                                             0.51)                      39    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Asn.Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                               0.55.sup.1 ; 0.89.sup.3 ;                                                      0.69.sup.4   +6.26° (c =                                                             0.49)                      40    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OMe HCl                                                                         0.63.sup.2 ; 0.92.sup.4                                                                     +39.6° (c =                                                             0.51)                      41    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH HCl                                                                          0.57.sup.2 ; 0.93.sup.3 ;                                                      0.82.sup.4   +31.5° (c =                                                             0.53)                      42                                                                                    ##STR8##                        0.60.sup.2 ; 0.94.sup.3 ;                                                      0.85.sup.4   +14.6° (c =                                                             0.5)                              ##STR9##                                                                43    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Sar.Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                               0.58.sup.2 ; 0.85.sup.4                                                                     +9.89° (c =                                                             1)                         44    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Leu.Thr.OH HCl                                                                           0.55.sup.2 ; 0.93.sup.3 ;                                                      0.72.sup.4   +5.13° (c =                                                             0.5)                       45    H.MeTyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH HCl   0.57.sup.2 ; 0.64.sup.3 ;                                                      0.64.sup.4   +25.5° (c =                                                             0.5)                       46    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Nle.OH HCl                                                                               0.62.sup.2 ; 0.68.sup.4                                                                     +23.2° (c =                                                             1.0)                       47    H.Tyr.Gly.Sar.Phe.Leu.OMe HCl    0.56.sup.2 ; 0.70.sup.3 ;                                                      0.90.sup.4   +10.2° (c =                                                             0.4)                       48    H. --D-Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                          0.55.sup.2 ; 0.68.sup.3                                                                     -20.7° (c =                                                             0.5)                       49    H. --D-Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH HCl                                                                     0.57.sup.2 ; 0.62.sup.3 ;                                                      0.50.sup.4   -4.51° (c =                                                             0.5)                       50    H.Tyr.Gly.Sar.Phe.Leu.OH HCl     0.59.sup.2 ; 0.80.sup.3 ;                                                      0.68.sup.4   +17.1° (c =                                                             1.0)                       51    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.Thr.OH HCl                                                                      0.51.sup.2 ; 0.66.sup.3 ;                                                      0.55.sup.4   +51.5° (c =                                                             0.52)                      52    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Met.OH HCl                                                                          0.55.sup.2 ; 0.67.sup.3 ;                                                      0.58.sup.4 ; 0.82.sup.5                                                                     +31.0° (c =                                                             0.51)                      53    H.Tyr.Pro.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH HCl     0.92.sup.3 ; 0.76.sup.4 ;                                                      0.66.sup.5   -8.6° (c =                                                              0.2)                       54    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Met.Thr.OH HCl                                                                      0.61.sup.2 ; 0.76.sup.3                                                                     +47.8° (c =                                                             0.51)                      55    H.Tyr.Sar.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH HCl     0.72.sup.3 ; 0.91.sup.4 ;                                                      0.54.sup.2   +20.8° (c =                                                             1.0)                       56    H.Me Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH 0.90.sup.4 ; 0.85.sup.3 ;                                                      0.52.sup.2                              57    H.Tyr.Gly. --D-Pro.Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                               0.89.sup.4 ; 0.82.sup.3 ;                                                      0.59.sup.2   +55.0° (c =                                                             1.0)                       58    H.Tyr. --D-Ala. --D-Pro.Phe.Leu.OH sodium salt                                                                  0.74.sup.4 ; 0.81.sup.3 ;                                                      0.74.sup.2   +43.2° (c =                                                             1.0)                       59    H.MeTyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Leu.OMe HCl  0.98.sup.4 ; 0.99.sup.3 ;                                                      0.48.sup.2   +18.1° (c =                                                             0.4)                       60    H.MeTyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Leu.OMe HCl                                                                            0.91.sup.4 ; 0.89.sup.3 ;                                                      0.63.sup.2                              61    H.Tyr. --D-MeAla.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OMe HCl                                                                       0.91.sup.4 ; 0.85.sup.3 ;                                                      0.60.sup.2   +61.3° (c =                                                             0.39)                      62    H.Tyr. --D-MeAla.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH HCl                                                                        0.68.sup.4 ; 0.72.sup.3 ;                                                      0.62.sup.2   +49.9° (c =                                                             0.45) -63 H.Tyr.                                                               --D-Ala.Gly.,Phe.Leu.O                                                         Me HCl 0.95.sup.4 ;                                                            0.95.sup.3 ;                                                                   0.63.sup.2 +11.6.degre                                                         e. (c = 0.44)              64    H.Tyr. -- D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Met.OMe HCl                                                                        0.94.sup.4 ; 0.93.sup.3 ;                                                      0.57.sup.2   +37.8° (c =                                                             0.38)                      65    H. --D-Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                               0.58.sup.2   -39.0° (c =                                                             1.0)                       66    H.MeTyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH HCl                                                                        0.55.sup.2 ; 0.81.sup.3 ;                                                      0.82.sup.4   +40.9° (c =                                                             1)                         67    H.MeTyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OMe HCl                                                                       0.52.sup.2 ; 0.90.sup.3 ;                                                      0.92.sup.4   +54.7° (c =                                                             1)                         68    H.DOPA.Gly.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH HCl    0.49.sup. 2 ; 0.85.sup.3                                                                    +13.8° (c =                                                             0.4)                             DOPA = 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanyl                                         69    H.Tyr.MeAla.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH HCl                                                                             0.51.sup.2 ; 0.88.sup.3 ;                                                      0.79.sup.4   +17° (c =                                                               1.0)                       70    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu. --D-Thr.OH HCl                                                                 0.50.sup.2   +48.9° (c =                                                             0.5)                       71    H. --D-Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Leu.OMe HCl                                                                              0.63.sup.2 ; 0.97.sup.3 ;                                                      0.93.sup.4   -42.7° (c =                                                             0.1)                       72    H.Tyr.MeAla.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OMe HCl                                                                            0.59.sup.2   +9.03° (c =                                                             0.2)                       73    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.NHEt HCl                                                                        0.61.sup.2 ; 0.93.sup.4 ;                                                      0.61.sup.5   +46.5° (c =                                                             0.5)                       74    H.MeTyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.NHEt HCl                                                                      0.58.sup.2 ; 0.92.sup.3 ;                                                      0.96.sup.4   +50.0° (c =                                                             1)                         75    Me-MeTyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH acetate                                                                        0.54.sup.2 ; 0.62.sup.3 ;                                                      0.66.sup.4   +39.2° (c =                                                             0.4)                       76    Me-MeTyr.Gly.Gly.Tyr.Leu.OH acetato                                                                             0.35.sup.2 ; 0.63.sup.3 ;                                                      0.87.sup.4   +31.3° (c =                                                             0.4)                       77    Me-MeTyr.Gly.Ala.Phe.Leu.OH HCl  0.55.sup.2 ; 0.66.sup.3 ;                                                      0.80.sup.4   +38.2° (c =                                                             1.0)                       78    Me-MeTyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH HCl  0.45.sup.2 ; 0.65.sup.3 ;                                                      0.58.sup.4   +52.4° (c =                                                             1.0)                       79    Me-MeTyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Leu.OMe HCl                                                                           0.45.sup.2 ; 0.65.sup.3 ;                                                      0.58.sup.4   +52.4° (c =                                                             1.0)                       80    Me-MeTyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Leu.OMe HCl 0.38.sup.2 ; 0.92.sup.3 ;                                                      0.96.sup.4                              81    Me-MeTyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH HCl                                                                       0.40.sup.2 ; 0.86.sup.3 ;                                                      0.78.sup.4   +62.4° (c =                                                             1.0)                       82    Me-MeTyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OMe HCl                                                                      0.41.sup.2 ; 0.75.sup.3 ;                                                      0.96.sup.4   +66.4° (c =                                                             1.0)                       83    Me- --D-MeTyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                            0.36.sup.2 ; 0.89.sup.3 ;                                                      0.60.sup.3   -67.4° (c =                                                             0.5)                       84    Me-MeTyr. --D-MeAla.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH HCl                                                                     0.33.sup.2 ; 0.76.sup.3 ;                                                      0.81.sup.4   +58.4° (c =                                                             0.2)                       85    H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Leu.Tyr.Gly.OH HCl                                                                            0.86.sup.3 ; 0.84.sup.4                                                                     -4.79° (c =                                                             0.1)                       86    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.His.Leu.OH 2HCl                                                                              0.26.sup.2 ; 0.47.sup.3 ;                                                      0.52.sup.4   +20.8° (c =                                                             1.0)                       87    H.Tyr.  --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.Phe.Gly.OH HCl                                                                 0.63.sup.2   +13.4° (c =                                                             0.5)                       88    H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Met(O).OH HCl  0.18.sup.2 ; 0.56.sup.3 ;                                                      0.51.sup.4   +18.7° (c =                                                             0.2)                       89    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.Lys.Lys.OH                                                                      0.44.sup.3 ; 0.38.sup.4                                                                     +12.0° (c =                                                             0.5)                       90    H.Tyr. --D-Trp.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH sodium salt                                                                       0.76.sup.2 ; 0.84.sup.3                                                                     -4.72° (c =                                                             1.0)                       91                                                                                    ##STR10##                       0.72.sup.2 ; 0.67.sup.5                                                                     +35.6° (c =                                                             0.5)                       92    H.Tyr. --D-Trp.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH HCl                                                                          0.76.sup.2   +16.58 --D2)*              93    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu. -p-chlorophenyl                                                                0.75.sup.2 ; 0.69.sup.5                                                                     +38.9° (c =                                                             0.5)                       94    H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe(4Cl). --D-Leu.OH HCl                                                                     0.42.sup.4A  -4.56° (c =                                                             0.2)                       95                                                                                    ##STR11##                       0.55.sup.2 ; 0.93.sup.3 ;                                                      0.79.sup.4   +28.4° (c =                                                             0.1)                       96    H.Tyr.  --D-Ala.Gly.Phe(4Cl). --D-Leu.OMe HCl                                                                   0.65.sup.5   +36.5° (c =                                                             0.5)                       97    H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OMe HCl                                                                              0.52.sup.5   +40.0° (c =                                                             0.5)                       98    H.MeTyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.NH.sub.2 HCl                                                                  0.56.sup.2   +50.7° (c =                                                             1)                         99    H.Tyr.Gly.,Gly.Phe. --D-Met.OMe HCl                                                                             0.62.sup.3 ; 0.64.sup.5                                                                     +43.7° (c =                                                             0.5)                       100   H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe. --D-Met.OH HCl                                                                               0.55.sup.2 ; 0.51.sup.5                                                                     +38.3° (c =                                                             0.5)                       101   H.MeTyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Met.OMe HCl                                                                       0.62.sup.2 ; 0.75.sup.3 ;                                                      0.92.sup.4   +59.4° (c =                                                             0.12)                      102   H.Tyr.Asn.Gly.Phe. --D-Met.OH    0.52.sup.2 ; 0.53.sup.3A                                                                    -11.8° (c =                                                             0.52)                      103   H.Tyr.Asn.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH    0.48.sup.2 ; 0.58.sup.3A                                                                    -21.0° (c =                                                             0.5)                       104   Me-MeTyr.MeAla.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH HCl                                                                          0.43.sup.2 ; 0.48.sup.3                                                                     +13.8° (c =                                                             0.1)                       105   H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.O-acetylleucinol HCl                                                                          0.81.sup.3 ; 0.84.sup.4 ;                                                      0.68.sup.5                                    O-acetylleucinol = NH.CH(CH.sub.2.CH(CH.sub.3 ).sub.2).CH.sub.2.O.CO           .CH.sub.3                                                                106   H.Tyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.leucinol HCl   0.81.sup.3 ; 0.75.sup.4 ;                                                      0.68.sup.5                              leucinol = NH.CH(CH.sub.2.CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2).CH.sub.2.OH                      107   H.Tyr.Ala(αMe).Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH HCl                                                                    0.55.sup.2 ; 0.77.sup.3 ;                                                      0.59.sup.4   +25.4° (c =                                                             0.52)                      Ala(αMe)- = NH.C(CH.sub.3).sub.2.CO                                      108   H.Tyr.Ala (αMe).Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OMe HCl                                                                  0.70.sup.2 ; 0.89.sup.3 ;                                                      0.95.sup.4   +28.5° (c =                                                             0.5)                       109   H.βHomoTyr.Gly.Gly.Phe.Leu.OH HCl                                                                          0.53.sup.2 ; 0.63.sup.3 ;                                                      0.52.sup.4   -3.14° (c =                                                             0.5)                       110   H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-βHomoLeu.OH HCl                                                                0.58.sup.1 ; 0.82.sup.3 ;                                                      0.49.sup.4   +10.7° (c =                                                             0.5)                       111   H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe.Leu-tetrazole HCl                                                                        0.60.sup.2 ; 0.92.sup.3 ;                                                      0.96.sup.4   +48.2° (c =                                                             0.1)                       112   H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu-tetrazole HCl                                                                   0.60.sup.2 ; 0.90.sup.3 ;                                                      0.94.sup.4   +39.7° (c =                                                             0.1)                              ##STR12##                                                               113   H.DOPA. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH HCl                                                                         0.56.sup.2 ; 0.72.sup.3                                                                     +29.9° (c =                                                             0.1)                       114   H. --D-DOPA. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH HCl                                                                    0.58.sup.2 ; 0.68.sup.3                                                                     +9.8° (c =                                                              0.1)                       115   H.MeTyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Met.NHEt HCl                                                                      0.59.sup.2 ; 0.84.sup.3 ;                                                      0.90.sup.4   +59.7° (c =                                                             1)                         116   H.MeTyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Met.OH HCl                                                                        0.52.sup.2 ; 0.71.sup.3 ;                                                      0.69.sup.4   +34.7° (c =                                                             1)                         117   H.MeTyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Met.NH.sub.2 HCl                                                                  0.52.sup.2 ; 0.72.sup.3 ;                                                      0.85.sup.4   +48.9° (c =                                                             1)                         118   H.Phe(4Cl). --D-Ala.Gly.Phe. --D-Leu.OH acetate                                                                 0.65.sup.3A ; 0.45.sup.4A                                                                   -0.78° (c =                                                             0.2)                       119   H.Tyr. --D-Ala.Gly.Phe(4Cl). --D-Leu.NHEt HCl                                                                   0.63.sup.2 ; 0.68.sup.3A ;                                                     0.68.sup.5   +40.7° (c =                                                             0.5)                       120                                                                                   ##STR13##                       0.62.sup.2 ; 0.96.sup.3 ;                                                      0.15.sup.6   +18.9° (c =         __________________________________________________________________________      *In glacial acetic acid                                                        *3A: chloroform:methanol:32% acetic acid (120:90:5)                            4A: chloroform:methanol:.880 ammonia (120:90:5)                          

Pharamecutical Formulations (A) Tablet Formulation (20 mg/tablet)

    ______________________________________                                         Compound of formula (I)                                                                            20 mg                                                      Lactose             76 mg                                                      Maize Starch        10 mg                                                      Gelatin              2 mg                                                      Magnesium Stearate   2 mg                                                      ______________________________________                                    

Mix together the compound of formula (I), Lactose and Maize Starch. Granulate with a solution of the Gelatin dissolved in water. Dry the granules, add the Magnesium Stearate and compress to produce tablets, 110 mg per tablet.

(B) Suppository (5 mg/product)

    ______________________________________                                         Compound of formula (I) 250    mg                                              Suppository Base (Massa                                                        Esterinum C) to         100    g                                               ______________________________________                                    

Melt the suppository base at 40° C. Gradually incorporate the compound of formula (I) in fine powder form and mix until homogeneous. Pour into suitable moulds, 2 g per mould, and allow to set.

Massa Esterinum C is a commercially available suppository base consisting of a mixture of mono, di, and triglycerides of saturated vegetable fatty acids. It is marketed by Henkel International, Dusseldorf.

(C) Pessary (5 mg/product)

    ______________________________________                                         Compound of formula (I)                                                                           5 mg                                                        Lactose            400 mg                                                      Povidone           5 mg                                                        Magnesium Stearate 5 mg                                                        ______________________________________                                    

Mix together the compound of formula (I) and Lactose. Granulate with a solution of Povidone in 50% aqueous ethanol. Dry the granules add the Magnesium Stearate and compress on suitably shaped punches, 415 mg per pessary.

(D) Freeze-dried Injection 100 mg/vial

    ______________________________________                                         Compound of formula (I) 100    mg                                              Water for Injections to 2.0    ml                                              ______________________________________                                    

Dissolve the compound of formula (I) in the Water for Injections. Sterilise the solution by passage through a membrane filter, 0.2 μm pore size, filtrate in a sterile receiver. Fill into sterile glass vials, 2 ml/vial under aseptic conditions and freeze-dry. Close the vials with sterile rubber closures secured with an aluminium seal.

The injection is reconstituted prior to administration by the addition of a convenient volume of Water for Injections or sterile saline solution.

In the foregoing, the weight of the compound of formula (I) is in each instance calculated with reference to the peptide base.

EXAMPLE

The compounds were examined for their ability to inhibit neurally evoked contractions of the isolated mouse vas deferens preparation (method of Hughes et al, Brain Research, 88 (1975) 296, using pulses at 0.1 Hz). The concentration of the test compound in the organ bath was successively increased at intervals of ten contractions until either the contractions had decreased to less than 30% of the resting contraction height or the final bath concentration of the test compound had reached a minimum of 10⁻⁴ M.

Reversal of the inhibition of the contractions was effected for morphine and each test compound by addition to the bath, before the final washout, of the known narcotic antagonist naloxone (1-N-allyl-7,8 -dihydro-14-hydroxynormorphinone).

The heights of the five contractions that immediately preceded the addition of the first "dose" of test compound were measured and their mean calculated. The resultant mean contraction associated with a particular bath concentration of test compound was calculated from the heights of the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th contractions after the addition of the appropriate "dose" of test compound, i.e. the five contractions that immediately preceded the subsequent "dose" or washout.

The mean control contraction height and the concentration-related mean contraction heights were used to compute the constants in an equation based on the Langmuir Adsorption Isotherm which defined the dose response curve: ##EQU1## where y=contraction (mm)

x=dose

C1=maximum predicted contraction of tissue

C2=minimum predicted contraction of tissue

C3=absolute potency

For each test compound the D5O was calculated, defined as the dose giving the response that is halfway between the maximum response and the minimum contraction of the tissue.

Potency relative to morphine was calculated from the following formula:

    RP=antilog[logD50(MORPHINE) - logD50(TEST COMPOUND)]

Generally at least two cumulative dose response curves were constructed and a mean D50 calculated. The significance of the difference between the D50 values for morphine and the test compound was assessed by Student's T-test using the logD50 values.

The results are as shown in the following table:

    ______________________________________                                         Compound of   Mean D50  Relative Potency                                       Ex. No.       (x10.sup.-6)                                                                             (Morphine)                                             ______________________________________                                         Morphine      0.466       1.0                                                  4             0.00174   267                                                    5(a)          0.00203   229                                                    5(b)          0.00495    94                                                    14            0.00203   229                                                    ______________________________________                                     

What we claim is:
 1. A peptide of formula (I):

    R--(X.sup.1).sub.m --(X.sup.2).sub.n --X.sup.3 --X.sup.4 --X.sup.5 --X.sup.6 --X.sup.7 --(X.sup.8).sub.p --(X.sup.9).sub.q --R.sup.1 (I)

or a salt, ester, amide, N-alkylamide or N,N-dialkylamide thereof, or an acid addition salt thereof, wherein X¹ and X² are the same or different and each is the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L); X³ is a D or L radical having the formula: ##STR14## wherein R² is phenyl or 1,4-cyclohexadien-l-yl, a is 0, 1 or 2, b is 0 or 1, one of W and W¹ is a group -NR³ and the other is hydrogen, provided that W is always --NR³ -- when b is 0 and that when R² is 1,4-cyclohexadienl-yl a is always 1 and b is always 0, where R³ is hydrogen or a group selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carboxyalkyl, carboxyalkenyl and carboxyalkynyl, and where R² is optionally substituted by one or more groups each selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, alkanoyloxy, alkyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, amino, N-alkylamino, halogen, N,N-dialkylamino and benzyloxy wherein the phenyl ring is optionally substituted by one or more groups each selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, alkanoyloxy, halogen, alkyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, amino, N-alkylamino and N,N-dialkylamino; X⁴ and X⁵ are the same or different and each is glycyl or a D or L radical selected from C-propargylglycyl, alanyl, α-alkyl alanyl, β-alanyl, valyl, norvalyl, leucyl, isoleucyl, norleucyl, prolyl, hydroxyprolyl, tryptophyl, asparaginyl and glutaminyl, where each of said radicals is optionally N² -substituted with an alkyl group; X⁶ is selected from glycyl, a D or L radical selected from methionyl, leucyl, isoleucyl, norleucyl, valyl, norvalyl, prolyl, hydroxyprolyl, alanyl and histidyl, and the values recited hereinabove for X³ ; X⁷ is a D or L radical selected from seryl, homoseryl, O-alkyl seryl, O-alkyl homoseryl, threonyl, O-alkyl threonyl, methionyl sulphoxide, methionyl sulphone, β-homovalyl, homoleucyl, β-homoleucyl, S-methylhomocysteinyl, homomethionyl, B-homomethionyl and the values recited hereinabove for X⁶ ; X⁸ is selected from the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L) and a D or L radical selected from seryl, threonyl, phenylalanyl and tyrosyl; X⁹ is selected from glycyl, the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L), and a D or L radical selected from seryl and threonyl; R is selected from hydrogen, aralkyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carboxyalkyl, carboxyalkenyl and carboxyalkynyl; R¹ represents the hydroxyl of the 1-carboxyl group of the C-terminal amino acid residue or a group, replacing said 1-carboxyl group, selected from --CH₂ OR⁴, where R⁴ is hydrogen or alkanoyl, and 5tetrazolyl optionally substituted in the 1- or 2-position with a group selected from alkyl and benzyl; and m, n, p and q are each selected from 0 and 1, except for the peptides of the formula:

    H--X.sup.3 --Gly--Gly--X.sup.6 --X.sup.7 --OH

and their salts, esters, amides, N-alkylmmides and N,N-dialkylamides and acid addition salts thereof, wherein X⁷ is selected from L-leucyl and L-methionyl and either X³ is selected from L-tyrosyl and L-3,5-diiodotyrosyl and X⁶ is L-phenylalanyl, or X³ is L-tyrosyl and X⁶ is L-4-chlorophenylalanyl.
 2. A peptide according to claim 1 of formula:

    R--X.sup.3.D--Ala.Gly.L--Phe. X.sup.7 --R.sup.1

or a salt, ester, amide, N-alkylamide or N,N-dialkylamide thereof, or an acid addition salt thereof, wherein R and R¹ are as defined in formula (I); X³ is L-tyrosyl or N-methyl-L-tyrosyl; and X⁷ is D-leucyl or D-methionyl.
 3. A pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salt or acid addition salt of a peptide or derivative thereof according to claim
 1. 4. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising a peptide of formula (I):

    R--(X.sup.1).sub.m --(X.sup.2).sub.n --X.sup.3 --X.sup.4 --X.sup.5 --X.sup.6 --X.sup.7 --(X.sup.8).sub.p --(X.sup.9).sub.q --R.sup.1 (I)

or a pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, amide, N-alkylamide or N,N-dialkylamide thereof, or a pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable acid salt thereof, together with an acceptable carrier therefor, wherein X¹ and X² are the same or different and each is the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L); X³ is a D or L radical having the formula: ##STR15## wherein R² is phenyl or 1,4-cyclohexadien-l-yl, a is 0, 1 or 2, b is 0 or 1, one of W and W¹ is a group --NR³ and the other is hydrogen, provided that W is always --NR³ -- when b is 0 and that when R² is 1,4-cyclohexadienl-yl a is always 1 and b is always 0, where R³ is hydrogen or a group selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carboxyalkyl, carboxyalkenyl and carboxyalkynyl, and where R² is optionally substituted by one or more groups each selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, alkanoyloxy, alkyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, amino, N-alkylamino, halogen, N-,N-dialkylamino and benzyloxy wherein the phenyl ring is optionally substituted by one or more groups each selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, alkanoyloxy, halogen, alkyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, amino, N-alkylamino and N,N-dialkylamino; X⁴ and X⁵ are the same or different and each is glycyl or a D or L radical selected from C-propargylglycyl, alanyl, α-alkyl alanyl, β-alanyl, valyl, norvalyl, leucyl, isoleucyl, norleucyl, prolyl, hydroxyprolyl, tryptophyl, asparaginyl and glutaminyl, where each of said radicals is optionally N² -substituted with an alkyl group; X⁶ is selected from glycyl, a D or L radical selected from methionyl, leucyl, isoleucyl, norleucyl, valyl, norvalyl, prolyl, hydroxyprolyl, alanyl and histidyl, and the values recited hereinabove for X³ ; X⁷ is a D or L radical selected from seryl, homoseryl, O-alkyl seryl, O-alkyl homoseryl, threonyl, O-alkyl threonyl, methionyl sulphoxide, methionyl sulphone, β-homovalyl, homoleucyl, β-homoleucyl, S-methylhomocysteinyl, homomethionyl, β-homoethionyl and the values recited hereinabove for X⁶ ; X⁸ is selected from the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L) and a D or L radical selected from seryl, threonyl, phenylalanyl and tyrosyl; X⁹ is selected from glycyl, the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L), and a D or L radical selected from seryl and threonyl; R is selected from hydrogen, aralkyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carboxyalkyl, carboxyalkenyl and carboxyalkynyl; R¹ represents the hydroxyl of the 1-carboxyl group of the C-terminal amino acid residue or a group, replacing said 1-carboxyl group, selected from --CH₂ OR⁴, where R⁴ is hydrogen or alkanoyl, and 5-tetrazolyl optionally substituted in the 1- or 2-position with a group selected from alkyl and benzyl; and m, n, p and q are each selected from 0 and 1, except for the peptides of the formula:

    H-X.sup.3 -Gly-Gly-X.sup.6 -X.sup.7 -OH

and their salts, esters, amides, N-alkylamides and N,N-dialkylamides and acid addition salts thereof, wherein X⁷ is selected from L-leucyl and L-methionyl and either X³ is selected from L-tyrosyl and L-3,5-diiodotyrosyl and X⁶ is L-phenylalanyl, or X³ is L-tyrosyl and X⁶ is L-4-chlorophenylalanyl.
 5. The formulation of claim 4 wherein the peptide is of the formula:

    H--(X.sup.1).sub.m --(X.sup.2).sub.n --X.sup.3 --X.sup.4 --X.sup.5 --X.sup.6 --X.sup.7 --(X.sup.8).sub.p --(X.sup.9).sub.q --OH

wherein X¹ and X² are the same or different and each is the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L); X³ is selected from phenylalanyl (D or L) and C-phenylglycyl (D or L), where each of said groups is optionally N² -substituted with an alkyl group and is optionally substituted in the 3- and/or 4- position of the phenyl ring by a group(s) each selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, acyloxy and benzyloxy; X⁴ is selected from glycyl, alanyl (D or L), valyl D or L), norvalyl (D or L), leucyl (D or L), isoleucyl (D or L), norleucyl (D or L), prolyl (D or L) and hydroxyprolyl (D or L), where each of said groups is optionally N² -substituted with an alkyl group; X⁵ is selected from asparaginyl (D or L), glutaminyl (D or L), where each of said groups is optionally N² -substituted with an alkyl group, and the values recited hereinabove for X⁴ ; X⁶ is selected from methionyl (D or L),leucyl (D or L), isoleucyl (D or L), norleucyl (D or L), valyl (D or L), norvalyl (D or L), prolyl (D or L), hydroxyprolyl (D or L), glycyl, alanyl (D or L) and the values recited hereinabove for X³ ; X⁷ is selected from methionyl (D or L), seryl (D or L), threonyl (D or L), leucyl (D or L), isoleucyl (D or L), norleucyl (D or L), valyl (D or L), norvalyl (D or L), prolyl (D or L), hydroxyprolyl (D or L), glycyl, allanyl (D or L) and the values recited hereinabove for X³ ; X⁸ and X⁹ are the same or different and each is selected from seryl (D or L) and threonyl (D or L); and m, n, p and q are each selected from 0 and 1, provided that, when m, n, p and q are all 0 and X³, X⁴, X⁵ and X⁶ are respectively tyrosyl, glycyl, glycyl and phenylalanyl, then X⁷ is other than methionyl or leucyl.
 6. A method for the treatment of a mammal for a condition wherein an agent with a morphine-like effect is indicated comprising the administration to the mammal of a treatment-effective, non-toxic amount of a peptide of formula (I):

    R--(X.sup.1).sub.m --(X.sup.2).sub.n --X.sup.3 --X.sup.4 --X.sup.5 --X.sup.6 --X.sup.7 --(X.sup.8).sub.p --(X.sup.9).sub.q --R.sup.1 (I)

or a pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, amide, N-alkylamide or N,N-dialkylamide thereof, or a pharmacologically and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, wherein X¹ and X² are the same or different and each is the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L); X³ is a D or L radical having the formula: ##STR16## wherein R² is phenyl or 1,4-cyclohexadien-l-yl, a is 0, 1 or 2, b is 0 or 1, one of W and W¹ is a group -NR³ and the other is hydrogen, provided that W is always --NR³ -- when b is 0 and that when R² is 1,4-cyclohexadienl-yl a is always 1 and b is always 0, where R³ is hydrogen or a group selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carboxyalkyl, carboxyalkenyl and carboxyalkynyl, and where R² is optionally substituted by one or more groups each selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, alkanoyloxy, alkyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, amino, N-alkylamino, halogen, N,N-dialkylamino and benzyloxy wherein the phenyl ring is optionally substituted by on or more groups each selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, alkanoyloxy, halogen, alkyl, nitro, trifluoromethyl, amino, N-alkylamino and N,N-dialkylamino; X⁴ and X⁵ are the same or different and each is glycyl or a D or L radical selected from C-proparglycglycyl, alanyl, αalkyl alanyl, β-alanyl, valyl, norvalyl, leucyl, isoleucyl, norleucyl, prolyl, hydroxyprolyl, tryptophyl, asparaginyl and glutaminyl, where each of said radicals is optionally N² -substituted with an alkyl group; X⁶ is selected from glycyl, a D or L radical selected from methionyl, leucyl, isoleucyl, norleucyl, valyl, norvalyl, prolyl, hydroxyprolyl, alanyl and histidyl, and the values recited hereinabove for X³ ; X⁷ is a D or L radical selected from seryl, homoseryl, 0-alkyl seryl, 0-alkyl homoseryl, threonyl, 0-alkyl threonyl, methionyl sulphoxide, methionyl sulphone, β-homovalyl, homoleucyl, β-homoleucyl, S-methylhomocysteinyl, homomethionyl, β-homomethionyl and the values recited hereinabove for X⁶ ; X⁸ is selected from the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L) and a D or L radical selected from seryl, threonyl, phenylalanyl and tyrosyl; X⁹ is selected from glycyl, the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L), and a D or L radical selected from seryl and threonyl; R is selected from hydrogen, aralkyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, carboxyalkyl, carboxyalkenyl and carboxyalkynyl; R¹ represents the hydroxyl of the 1-carboxyl group of the C-terminal amino acid residue or a group, replacing said 1-carboxyl group, selected from --CH₂ OR⁴, where R⁴ is hydrogen or alkanoyl, and 5-tetrzolyl optionally substituted in the 1- or 2-position with a group selected from alkyl and benzyl; and m,n,p and q are each selected from 0 and 1, except for the peptides of the formula:

    H--X.sup.3 --Gly--Gly--X.sup.6 --X.sup.7 --OH

and their salts, esters, amides, N-alkylamides and N,N-dialkylamides and acid addition salts thereof, wherein X⁷ is selected from L-leucyl and L-methionyl and either X³ is selected from L-tyroslyl and L-3,5-diiodotyrosyl and X⁶ is L-phenylalanyl, or X³ is L-tyrosyl and X⁶ is L-4-chlorophenylalanyl.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the peptide is of the formula:

    H--(X.sup.1).sub.m --(X.sup.2).sub.n --X.sup.3 --X.sup.4 --X.sup.5 --X.sup.6 --X.sup.7 --(X.sup.8).sub.p --(X.sup.9).sub.q --OH

wherein X¹ and X² are the same or different and each is the radical of a basic amino acid (D or L); X³ is selected from phenylalanyl (D or L) and C-phenylglycyl (D or L), where each of said groups is optionally N² -substituted with an alkyl group and is optionally substituted in the 3- and/or 4- position of the phenyl ring by a group(s) each selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, acyloxy and benzyloxy; X⁴ is selected from glycyl, alanyl (D or L), valyl (D or L), norvalyl (D or L), leucyl (D or L), isoleucyl (D or L), norleucyl (D or L), prolyl (D or L) and hydroxyprolyl (D or L), where each of said groups is optionally N² -substituted with an alkyl group; X⁵ is selected from asparaginyl (D or L), glutaminyl (D or L), where each of said groups is optionally N² -substituted with an alkyl group, and the values recited hereinabove for X⁴ ; X⁶ is selected from methionyl (D or L), leucyl (D or L), isoleucyl (D or L), norleucyl (D or L), valyl (D or L), norvalyl (D or L), prolyl (D or L), hydroxyprolyl (D or L), glycyl, alanyl (D or L) and the values recited hereinabove for X³ ; X⁷ is selected from methionyl (D or L), seryl (D or L), threonyl (D or L), leucyl (D or L), isoleucyl (D or L), norleucyl (D or L), valyl (D or L), norvalyl (D or L), prolyl (D or L), hydroxyprolyl (D or L), glycyl, alanyl (D or L) and the values recited hereinabove for X³ ; X⁸ and X⁹ are the same or different and each is selected from seryl (D or L) and threonyl (D or L); and m, n, p and q are each selected from 0 or 1; provided that, when m, n, p and q are all 0 and X³, X⁴, X⁵ and X⁶ are respectively tyrosyl, glycyl, glycyl and phenylalanyl, then X⁷ is other than methionyl or leucyl.
 8. The method of claim 6 wherein the mammal is man. 